I’d recommend Quixote’s puzzles to beginners – straightforward wordplay, always bulletproof, excellent surface readings. This I found on the easy side, solving time 12 mins
* = anagram < = reversed
ACROSS
1 DEFUSED cf refused
5 SPO(T)-ON
9 EGALITARIANISM (Is it managerial)*
10 CON FRONT
13 HEARTS Hidden
14 SCHADENFREUDE (cheered sad fun)* Very good. Malicious delight in the misfortunes of others.
18 POSTE R EST ANTE
21 C ASSIS(t) Charlie = c in international radio communication
23 NEEDLES S
26 CHARLOTTE RUSSE (chartreuse lots)*
27 D REAMS I think if you work it out 500 (D) reams of paper = 250,000 sheets.
28 RODENTS (snorted)*
DOWN
1 Judy D(R)ENCH
2 FLA (UN) TS
3 SKIER Cricket shot
4 D RAIN
6 P(r)EACH
7 T(RIVAL)ENT
8 NEMATODE (one mated)*
11 ON AIR Double definition
12 TREASON (senator)*
15 CITY-STATE (Static, yet)*
16 F(R)AME
17 RO(MAN)CER (credo)*
19 E (ME) R SON
20 ASSES S
22 SALE M (1000)
24 (t)ESTER
25 DA RED ad<